Salomé and Wilde Salomé

A unique double feature and in conversation with Al Pacino and Stephen Fry

21 September, 4:00 PMNFT1, BFI Southbank

Salomé

2013Directed by Al PacinoWith Jessica Chastain78 min

Oscar Wilde’s most controversial play is the story of a princess who lived in the time of Jesus. Salomé (Jessica Chastain) is in love with prophet John the Baptist, whom her stepfather, King Herod (Al Pacino), has imprisoned in a well for heresy. But her love is spurned, and after the king drunkenly promises the princess anything she wants in exchange for an erotically charged dance, Salomé puts Herod in a terrible position by demanding the head of John the Baptist – the only man the king fears.

It is a scintillating tale of lust, greed and betrayal that has spawned multiple stage productions, an opera by Richard Strauss, and influenced work by musicians including Nick Cave and U2. This stage production was filmed during its run at the Wadsworth Theatre in Los Angeles.

Wilde Salomé

2011Directed by Al Pacino95 min

This filmic collage captures the highs and lows of presenting a challenging work by one of the greatest writers of the 20th century, Oscar Wilde. Staging the play live in Los Angeles, director Al Pacino tackles its problems and issues and helps discover a new star, Jessica Chastain, in the title role of Salomé. Pacino also grapples with Wilde’s need to express something utterly different from anything he had written before, and with finding a way to make a movie of the entire event. An unusual, revealing and avant-garde journey into the light and heart of Oscar Wilde’s masterwork.

Following the presentation of these films Al Pacino will be joined on stage by Stephen Fry ‎in a conversation that will be broadcast to cinemas across the UK.

Prices £35.00 or £30.00 concessions (BFI Members pay £1.50 less).Please note that all tickets include both the plays and the Q&A.

BFI Patrons and Members enjoy priority booking to previews and events at BFI Southbank all year round as well as a great package of other benefits. Find out more at bfi.org.uk/supportus